Trigger/Gun Control around Recoil - Handguns

[10generation]

I mostly shoot a 1911 and Glock 9mm. Took the 1911 to Gunsite last year for their 250 course and had a blast. Was pleased with my performance, but my main issue was trigger control when shooting multiple rounds quickly. Would push my shots down or to the left....or both.

Figured out by loading the random snap cap (when you just go click, you see exactly what your base mechanics are) that I tend to anticipate the recoil and push the gun while firing.

Was speaking with precision rifle instructor recently and he said that instead of using one dummy round/snap cap in a magazine, he will load a majority of dummies and few live rounds. Logic is that dryfiring is key to good trigger control and this incorporates dry firing straight into the shooting practice. Minimizes flinch, anticipation because you are being corrected with the dummy round feedback more frequently.

So today, I started loading my handgun mags with a lot more dummy rounds at the range and could see the difference in my shooting. Improved my surprise break and tightened up my accuracy. Side benefit is that I still had fun, and burned less ammo. Not nearly as boring as straight dryfiring.

Curious if anyone else has this issue, has tried similar fixes, has used other training tactics to improve it.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Trigger/Gun Control around Recoil - Handguns

Try putting a laser sight on your pistol and dry fire with that. It'll give you instant feed back.

Also forget shooting fast until you've developed the muscle memory needed to control the trigger.

Another method: Imagine your front sight is on a lever connected to the trigger. In squeezing the trigger, you're trying to slide the front sight to the rear toward you.

We of course know we're not moving the front sight, but will seem like it because as you concentrate, the front sight will get sharper and appear closer to you.

With the latter excersise you're working on both your trigger control and concentrating on your front sight.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Trigger/Gun Control around Recoil - Handguns

you are not pressing the trigger straight back, try bringing the tip of your finger towards your nose by only moving the tip of it and not the whole finger, also only squeezing the trigger finger while the rest of the hand is tight.
There shouldn't be any pressure in your chest muscles trying to clamp your hands together, only front to back, you will find that the front sight will move up and down and not to the side anymore.
will pulling the trigger fast, try not to blink and lose track of the front sight so that when it resets on the target you are ready to pull it again like described above.
dry fire is your friend and observing what the front sight does is your friend but you must keep your eyes open the whole time.
most importantly press the trigger while aiming at the same time and releasing the trigger to reset in a stright forward movement opposite to the pull.
easier said than done but with proper practice you'll be doing just fine.
hope this helps.

 

[plant.one]

Re: Trigger/Gun Control around Recoil - Handguns

i acquired my first pistol just a few years ago. i also found out just how bad of a trigger finger i had all these years! My early pistol shooting groups looked more like buckshot patterns

when i was working on my trigger control via dry fire with snap caps on my XD - my whole goal was a satisfying click with as little sight movement as possible during the whole trigger pull action.

i started by aiming at my doorknob - or other small inanimate object - how long each pull took wasnt an issue at first but i'm sure i was cursing mildly every time the sight twitched.

once i had that going well i would come up from low ready, acquire a site picture on random things around the room and then squeeze for the click - again focusing on as little sight movement as possible.

once i had a pretty good success rate doing that - i started playing 'shoot the bad guy' when watching movies. I found it to be a great dry fire excersize once shooting the lamp, doorknob, tribble on the bookshelf, and the candle on the endtable got boring

the next trick i was shown to improving my follow up shots was what i've come to learn as the reset drill. I cant be sure on your glock or 1911, but with my XD i can "twitch" the slide just enough to reset the firing pin without ejecting the snap cap - all while holding the trigger fully depressed. Once the slide was back in full battery i could release the trigger until i found my reset and therefor practice my follow up squeeze with every "shot" with my snap cap.


other than that you just have to get out and practice those techniques when the gun is going boom like you are. but focus on those basics of trigger control at home first and you'll shave tons of time off the learning curve at the range.




i read a quote somewhere that still sticks with me when it comes to handling a pistol.

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.



some descriptions of common pistol errors
http://www.targetshooting.ca/docs/Pistol_Shot_Analysis.pdf


this was one of the targets i used to print out and take to the range with me to help track my errors so i knew what to watch for during dry fire and where to focus the most.

i hope you find this as helpful as i did.

 

[10generation]

Re: Trigger/Gun Control around Recoil - Handguns

Thanks for the input. That is a great target graphic..